Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-10-15


scured a fine harvest Of dollars,
we're content to await with good grace
he coming of the tardy train.
The comedian and leading man were
discussing the merits and dement's of q
certain mythical party, who, as the
comedian CONTEMPORARY expressed it,
Thought he could act" The remain
| ing professionals were cengregated in
a group, telling scraps of personal ex-
perience of when 1 was with Jake
Skinner, or the Little Gem Party,
and SO on, almost ad iaaf,,ita.n,. There
was one exception to the rule of remi-
niscence retailers. This one, although
a member of the company, did not
mingle in the time-killing pursuits of
the others She was girl of, say, 10,
just budding into perfect womanhood.
This was Florence Vernon, the pianist
of the Nonpareil party. Reared in q
home of luxury, and surrounded by all
that refinement could desire in the way
of perfect home-life, she did not take
kindly to the hit-and-miss existence
that falls to the lot of q member OF
|second-class travelling theatrical COM
pany. Like many another girl, she
had looked upon life in the "profes-
sion" as little short of a foretaste of
Paradise. A schoolgirl friend, who
had embraced the profession, secured
a position for her as pianist.
The high hopes with which she had
started out were already decidedly on
the wane. Only her pride kept her
from leaving the company and the gen.
teel tramp-life, and flying back to
the home where the dear ones would
so rejoice at her coming. Her trial en-
gagement had been for two months,
and already she had resolved that the
period named would end her profess
sional career.
As yet, Bruce Collins had formed
no definite plan as to ho,o he was to go.
But, now. as he stood at the stove and
listened to the chatter of the tongues
about him, he began to revolve the sub
ject in his mind.
Near him stood two tramps. They
were simply passing the time till the
arrival of the west-bound train at mid
night, Bruce gathered from their mutt
terings.
Here were living examples that men
could travel without money and still
not walk. Why not seek information
of them? This was the tenor of Bruce's
thoughts. Presently they edged near
the corner where Florence Vernon sat.
If he Intercepted them there Bruce
was sure he would have no listeners,
unless, indeed, the young lady over
heard the conversation.
Bruce began with some unimportant
remark, to converse with the knights of
the road. He told the reason that
he desired to travel, of the dear ones
at home who were calling for him.
The tramps, lost as they were to all
home ties, appreciated his condition,
and placed at his disposal their stock
Of information, the fruits of years of
cumming" and beating" By the
time they had finished, Bruce had
gained something of an insight into the
art of free riding. His recent illness
began to tell on him, and he sought the
only vacant seat in the room, the one
beside the pretty pianist.
Presently, as he sat beside her he
'elt soft hand press little package
nto his palm. He looked quickly at
The girl, but, the little hand was rest
ng quietly at her side and she was gaz-
ng at the placards that adorned the
walls.
The package consisted of q dainty |
title note, wrapped around two green
packs, wadded together. The note
'ead in hastily penciled lines:
&Poor man! I overheard your conversation |
Vltn tnose trampS, just now, ana pity the |
distress that causes you to go to such lengths |
o be with the dear ones at home. Take the |
nclosed sum, as a gift from an unknown
riend sF. ""
Tears of gratitude sprang into his
yes as he read. Then he slipped the
tote carefully into his pocket, and,
'dging closer to the girl, he whispered,
IS he dropped the bills into her now
nterlaced hands:
mo, Miss, kind as the offer is, I can
lot accept it. But, from the depths of
grateful heart, thank you. May
5od bless you for your kindness!"
She turned her face toward his.
"But you must take it." she said.
Your need demands it. Take it; I
AVE an abundance"
Her voice, almost whisper, was in
xpressibly sweet to Bruce's ears. He
irmly declined. and seeing his dokor